With questions and concerns swirling regarding some of the off-field issues involving Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, we’re hearing that McFadden has been addressing the situation head-on, and that he has vowed to change.

As we hear it, McFadden recognizes that he put himself into a couple of bad positions while in college, and he claims that he will avoid those kinds of circumstances in the future.  Regarding concerns that some of his associates will follow him to the NFL (a la guys like Ray Lewis and Michael Vick), we’re told that McFadden is telling teams that his gym bag is the only “baggage” he’ll be bringing to the NFL.

There also are rumors among NFL scouts that McFadden already has four children via four different mothers.  A source with knowledge of the situation(s) contends that two of the paternity claims have been proven to be inaccurate.  In any event, the source says that McFadden is committed to doing the right thing in any situation where it is established that he has fathered a child.

From our perspective, we aren’t troubled by the notion of a guy having one or more kids out of wedlock, as long as he’s providing for them financially and making an effort to participate in the rearing of the children.  Though we like to poke fun at guys like Tom Brady and Travis Henry for that kind of stuff, it’s a far better pastime than fighting dogs or shooting up strip clubs.